morinpm

Huh. I seem to be getting a LOT more of the blackberry with this than most of the other reviewers...certainly no citrus/khus/musk. How odd. Perhaps my nose is broken? Still, I like blackberry--I think I would've been happier with Glasgow if it had been this blackberry-ish--so I don't mind this at all. At times it reminds me of this black raspberry hand soap my sweetie used to have, but not as overpowering or soapy (if that makes sense). Definitely a re-tester, though...I'd like to try it in a scent locket and see what happens, especially since it seems to be disappearing from my skin rather quickly.

1/26-2/1 What is everyone's take on Valentine's Day? Meh. Up until two years ago my love life was basically nonexistent, so V-Day was really just an occasion to grumble and drink gin and bitters, and once to paint a gigantic cynical mural on newspapers that wallpapered my friends' house's dining room. Another year I painstakingly made my own conversation hearts by scraping some Sweethearts clean with an exacto knife, then writing new messages (e.g. "LUV SUX" "HATE U") on using a technical pen filled with red food coloring. Two years ago I guess I had my first "real" V-Day in that it was spent with a boyfriend--although he dumped me via email two weeks later. But last year I got to celebrate the day with my current sweetie, which was lovely. Damned if I can remember what we actually did, though. Do you like traditional Valentine's Day colors (red, pink, white, more?) I don't think it's possible for me to overindulge in the color red. It's seemingly everywhere in my home and on my person. White I don't really care for, and pink...well, let's just say I'm coming around on pink. It really depends upon the shade; pastels leave me cold, but give me something punchy and bright and I'll at least give it a chance. Favorite semi-obscure animal? Oh, oh, can I make a plug for rats? The cute/indoor/wanted kind, of course. They aren't obscure, I know, they just have a bad reputation. But they're awfully adorable and smart as the dickens! It pisses me off to no end that I developed an allergy to rats after owning them for a few years. What is your favorite sign that spring is coming? Me, I can't decide. I'm torn between 1) bouquets of daffodils showing up at the grocery store, 2) that one week of really nice, sunny weather Washington always seems to get sometime in February, and 3) the annual appearance of Cadbury Mini Eggs. Knitted items: Love, love, love anything handmade. Crafts rock! In fact, if I am lucky enough to be included in this round, my witchee will most likely be getting some kind of customized embroidered hanky in their package... Used books/CDs: Go for it! Naughty stuff: Sure, why not. Ren Faires, Cons and dress-up: I have a passing interest in steampunkish things, almost went to SteamCon in Seattle last year but didn't get off my duff in time to make a costume. I did however attend a steampunk birthday high tea recently, and dressed up to boot, which was loads of fun. Accessories for electronic doodads: Nothing in particular comes to mind, I think I'm set on that front. Pet toys: Alas, I have no pets. In fact I'm allergic to most cute and fuzzy critters. Top 25 most listened to on iTunes: "Take Me With U," Prince "Bad Romance," Lady Gaga "Just Kissed My Baby," The Meters "Skin Tight," Ohio Players "Future Shock," Curtis Mayfield "Atomic Dog," George Clinton "Fight The Power - Pts. 1 & 2," The Isley Brothers "The Payback," James Brown "Human Nature," Michael Jackson "Mothership Connection (Star Child)," Parliament "Outa-Space," Billy Preston "Bustin' Loose," Chuck Brown & The Soul Searchers "The Message," Cymande "Halfway Home," TV On The Radio "Teenage Wildlife," David Bowie "Ready Or Not Here I Come (Can't Hide From Love)," The Delfonics "Cult of Personality," Living Colour "Cuando te Vea," Tito Puente "Everything That Happens," Brian Eno & David Byrne "Golden Years," David Bowie "Le Temps Des Cerises," Edith Piaf "I Thank You," Sam & Dave "Golden Hours," 801 "Sexy Boy," Air "You're the Top," Ella Fitzgerald (Apparently I put my funk compilation on repeat...) Mix CD: Absolutely, I'm a huge music fan and love mix cd projects. Mardi Gras: As a recovering Catholic, Mardi Gras will always hold a special place in my heart. But my natural introversion keeps me from fully enjoying any occasion where the main draw is lots of loud, crowded, drunken revelry. It's just...not my thing. International/cultural things: Yes please! Sewing crafts: This is one I happen to do myself! But I always like handmade stuff, so if sewing is what you do too, I say go for it! WoW: That's my sweetie's distraction, not mine. I'm much more of a Nintendo girl, personally. Do you like candy? What kinds? I love candy, probably too much, especially the Cadbury stuff you can get at World Market. Time Out, Flake, Crunchie, the chocolate bars with whole hazelnuts in them...hoo lordy. Also, peanut butter MnM's. Anything chocolate, really, and you can't go wrong. The only big candy don't for me is black licorice. A Favorite love poem? Gonna have to get back to you on this one as nothing leaps to mind. Would you like one of those Plush Microbes? The mad cow one would be appropriate since I was living in Scotland around the time that whole thing blew up, but it would probably just gather dust. Would you like new nail polish? I already have a sizable collection of nail polishes I don't use, so maybe not. Do you like incense and/or scented candles, and are you able to burn them in your home? If so, what kinds of scents do you like? Scented candles no; incense a big yes. At home I usually burn classic nag champa, or Japanese rosewood or cedarwood. Boxes? For Bpal (bottles and/or imps) or otherwise Imp storage is taken care of but I'm still looking for a good box for my bottles... Would you use a natural sea sponge? Yes, more than likely, as I go to the nearby Korean spa reasonably often. Are you interested in bacon chocolate? I've tried it and it's good, but once was enough, thanks. Coffee, hot chocolate, or tea? Yes to all three. Coffee is usually in the form of a mocha, but I drink plenty of tea and like to indulge in good hot chocolate now and then. Would you like some of my favorite recipes? If you have a knock-em-dead recipe you'd like to share, please do! I especially like making desserts, but I'll try anything once. Would you like posters, pictures, art? I'm open to that idea, as I'm making more of a concerted effort to decorate my walls lately. Would you like soaps? Especially from Paintbox? And ESPECIALLY the Valentines Special Edition Soaps?? I don't usually use scented soaps, but I've heard a lot of good things about Paintbox. Your Witch is perusing the wares at a local yard sale...So, what is this unobtainable miracle your Witch found? Heh...studio space for me to have an area where I can set up my letterpress? Do you like salted caramels? I love them so much I made several batches at Christmas to give to friends and family. They were a huge hit and I'll probably make them for my own witchee! Imagine that someone hands you their wallet and sends you into a really good bakery. They have everything, from breads to brownies, cookies to croissants, anything you could imagine, and you're allowed to pick out five things for yourself. What do you pick? 1. Maple bar 2. Sfogliatelle pastry 3. Salted caramel chocolate cupcake (a la Cupcake Royale) 4. A loaf of fresh, hot, crusty bread 5. Another maple bar for good measure. It gets asked every round but sockdreams? Hmm, could be interesting, wacky socks are neat. Sock It To Me is especially good for that. Anything taller than knee-high is probably out though, I have chunky legs. Do you like alcoholic beverages? If so, what is your preference (beer, wine, liquor...)? I have yet to find a beer I like. But I have a small wine collection (Italian reds FTW) and I would acquire and drink more single malt scotch if I could justify the expense. Instead I usually default to Maker's Mark on the rocks or a good Manhattan. Are you into steampunk? Sort of (see the RenFair/Con question above). 2/2 Would you like or accept an energetically-charged item or gift? Something that had power poured into it? If so, do you have a particular purpose that you'd prefer? (Love, protection, money, etc.) I would accept such a gift if my witch wanted to give it but I wouldn't request it specifically. Health and/or balance would probably be my preferred purpose. Do you have any significant upcoming events in your life you'd like something for? A child/yourself graduating from high school/college? Are you buying a new home or car soon? Moving in with someone/getting married? Taking a new job? Moving to a new part of the country/world? At this point I have no major life-event plans on the horizon. <knocks on wood>

2/4 Are you opposed to vegan baked goods? Or baked goods in general? Just so long as it tastes good. Raisins are not a favorite, however. What's your favourite flower? Daffodils, hands down! Lip balm: Yay or nay? If yay, what are your favorite kinds (brands, consistency, whatever)? Eh, I barely use the lip balm I do have (Burt's Bees). How do you feel about home-canned goods, like pickles, jelly, preserves, stuff like that. I'm a canner myself, so I appreciate that! OPI Alice in Wonderland set? It's OK, but I'm not wild over it. 2/3 I custom mix nail polish, a process called 'frankening'. If you were my witch, would you enjoy a custom 'franken', based on whatever colors/theme you chose? If it's something you'd like to do I'm sure I could think of a theme. Since everyone is spending the same amount of money on this swap, would you be interested in seeing the cost breakdown of each item in your package? Not especially, unless you really want to. Do you like keys? I like the key-shaped multitool that ThinkGeek sells! Do you like guessing who your witch is, or would you prefer to know? Do you mind knowing? I think I would like to find out who my witch is by the end so I know who to thank! If it's going to be obvious who your witch is, would you rather she played the ninja and sent one big box at the end, or smaller packages along the way? Either way is fine with me, however my witch wants to do it. What color are your eyes? Green. If you had to choose a color for a nightie to sleep in what color would it be? Hmm, probably black, although it would be for lounging more than sleeping. 2/2 Ooooh! BPAL's beloved alicia_stardust is having a contest! If you're my Witchee, would you like a chance to win these earrings? I don't think I'd appreciate them nearly as much as they deserve, so I'll pass. How are we feeling about burlesque? When done well it can be a kick, when done poorly...eesh. I don't think I could get away with doing it myself. Is there anything you're lusting after in the Villainess update? I don't know as I've never bought anything from them...

Alas, Copper Phoenix was a bust for me. At first when I put it on I get some floral/rose and what smells like melon(?!). But within an hour or so it fades to sweet, faintly powdery nothing. Aw man...

I recently tried Alecto, which has raspberry leaf in it. And it's true that some raspberry-ness came out after a while, but Alecto was pure pencil shavings on my wrist for a good half an hour or so before that due to (I'm guessing) the cedar. Still, once it calmed down it was a very nice scent, might be worth checking out/adding to the equation...

Oh my. Aglaea is positively delicious, I tell you. On me it's mostly peach wine, with a certain muskiness becoming more apparent as it dries. It also makes me crave a Wallaby Darned drink from Outback something fierce. Unfortunately this scent disappears rather quickly, but that's all the more reason for a big bottle of it, right?

Oh, this scent was SUCH a disappointing/sad-trombone one. When I first opened the imp I couldn't even really concentrate on what it actually smelled like, because the scent brought up some very vivid memories of a long-gone unrequited longing. With that kind of reaction I expected fireworks once it hit my skin. But no, it disappeared into faintly juniper-scented nothing within a very short period of time. I had it in a scent locket as well, which was...okay. Just okay. The boyfriend wasn't too impressed with it either ("it smells like your entire imp box all at once"). Ah well, guess that's one for the swaps.

Spicy carnations in the imp and on my skin, at least for the first few hours. Once it's had some time to sit, I start picking up a sweet, vanilla-ish note, but the scent disappears completely shortly thereafter. Still going strong in my locket, though. I like this and will keep the imp, but it's not a big bottle candidate for me...I'm just not the floral type.

Somnus, for me, is a most perplexing scent. I honestly can't smell any specific notes in it, it's just...kind of a floral sweetness, one I'd describe as periwinkle-colored. When I tried it by itself, I seemed to get decent sleep, but strangely I woke up with mild vertigo that persisted for a day or so. Then this weekend I tried layering it with Temple of Dreams...I don't know if it was Somnus itself or my inherent tiredness, but I manged to sleep in considerably later than I usually can. (No vertigo this time either.) I'll be keeping the imp and continuing to test it, but I think I'd prefer a sleep blend with more lavender in it.

Mmm. Mouse reminds me of nothing so much as "Dorian lite," in that I pick up vanilla and some lovely light musks from it. The sweet pea lends it a nice floral sweetness, though--it's not as in-your-face as Dorian is. (I never got any amber or sandalwood, but that could be 'cause I'm a noob and my nose isn't trained yet.) Unfortunately Mouse seemed to disappear from my wrists fairly quickly, although it retained its deliciousness in my scent locket for a good deal longer than that. Maybe next time I need to slather? I'm definitely keeping the imp and trying it out a few more times; it could be a candidate for a large bottle.

Oh man, this was one of the very few BPALs I've actually had to wash off. Saturnalia was absolutely intolerable on me (I do like violets, but I'm not certain that I can wear them) and I'm rather afraid to open the imp again to try to suss out more scent impressions other than "ARRRRGH VETIVER". Alas! Off to the swap pile...

I think I'm well on my way to falling in love with The Caterpillar. This was one I had my eye on for a while, but I passed it over in my first imp order in favor of more popular scents (oh Snake Oil, why did you have to Play-Doh me like that?). What an oversight! The Caterpillar is a strange and wonderful (and sometimes confusing) fragrance--the first time I tried it, it smelled like nothing so much as Green Rose incense, which I happen to loooooove. The second time I tried it I started picking up on a lot more of the earthiness, which was strange but not unpleasant, as it eventually mellowed out and meshed with that lovely green-incense smell. Long story short, this one's definitely a candidate for a big bottle.

This was one of the first imps I ordered from BPAL, and I don't regret it for a moment! It's been very soothing to make a ritual of putting it on before bed. In the imp I get a lot of lavender; when it starts to dry, I smell something rather more herbal--possibly rosemary and basil? After that, who knows; by then I'm usually asleep and dreaming (and I have definitely noticed that I'm remembering more of my dreams lately). Suffice it to say there was a 5ml bottle of Temple of Dreams in my second box from BPAL!